Switch.



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SWITCH.

(Applition led Nov. 16, 1899.) r

n l! n n u l! Patented Feb. I3, 190.0.

2 Sheets-Sheet I F :1 TB

No. 643,205. Patented Feb. I3, |900.

A. W. RUMSEY.

swlTcH. (Application filed Nov. 16, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shout 2.

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H LN' VENTOR.

Attorneys.

TN: Nonms Er'cas co. PHOTO-uws, wAsmNGron, n c.

Hirn *raras f ALBERT IV. RUMSEY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO PI-IILLIP BINGMAN, OF SAME PLACE.

SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,205, dated February13, 1900.

Application filed November 16I 1899- SerialNo. 737,181. (No model.) I

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT W. RUMSEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne, State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Switches; and I dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ot' theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the iigures of reference m arkedthereon,which form a part of this speciiication.

Thisinvention relates to new anduseful improvements inelectrically-actuated switches, more especially designed forstreet-railways; and it consists in the construction and arrangement ofthe parts hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out particularly inthe claims.

One object of the invention is to produce a switch of the characterdescribed adapted to be actuated by the motor-current and in which thearrangement is such as to enable the utilization of the current afterpassing through the motor in the operation of propelling the car forthrowing the switch.

A further object is to provide magnets of a peculiar construction whichrender them adaptable for moving the pivoted tongue and at the same timeprovide for the development of sufiicient magnetic force therein toinsure at all times a perfect operation of the switch.

The above objects are attained by the mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a tracksystem embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectionthrough a portion of the switch and operating-magnets as on line 2 2 ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of one of the magnets. Fig. 4 is adiagrammatic view of the electric circuit, showing in elevation asection of the track and a car thereon,through the movable contact ofwhich the circuit is completed. Fig. 5 is a like view showing a plan ofa portion of the track and a car thereon, illustrating the course of thecircuit through the motor to central conductor, to switch-operatingmagnets, and to the 5o track.

Referring to the characters of reference, l designates the main track,which in Fig. 1 is shown provided with two branches 2 and 3,respectively, having suitable curves pro- `vided with switches.

The rails of the main track at a proper distance from the switches aredivided into insulated sections 4 and 5. The sections 4 are connectedtogether and to the main tracks by means of bonds or con- 6o ductors G,while the sections 5 have no electrical connection with the track and,in fact, are dead-sections. The main rails ofthe track are electricallyconnected around the sections 4 and 5 by means of a bond or conductor 7.65

The main rails of the track, as will be understood and as shown in Figs.4 and 5, are connected with the source of the electric energy '8, withwhich the overhead conductor 9 is also connected. The car carries atrolley run- 7o ning in contact with the overhead conductor, throughwhich the electric current is directed tothe motor which propels thecar, as hereinafter explained.

Located in the center of the track between tromagnets which operate theswitches are infact included in the bonded circuit of the track and arein series with the motor on the car through the central sections incircuit therewith and the contact, hereinafter eX- plained, carried onthe car, by means of which 9o the negative current after passing throughthe motor may be shifted from the ordinary bonded conductors through the'conductors in which said electromagnets are located.

The switch connecting the branch 3 with 95 the main track is providedwith a tongue 22,

Included in each of said lines are 8o pivoted at 23 and adapted to bedrawn from side to side to change the direction of the car in theordinary manner. The electromagnets 18 and 19 are located upon oppositesides of said tongue, and the cores 24: of said magnets extend upwardlyand are provided with rightangled end portions 25,which project adjacentto the opposite sides of the tongue 22. This formation of the cores ofthe magnets enables the poles to be presented in proximity to thepivoted tongue of the switch and the magnets to be located suflicientlybelow the grade of the track to be out of the way. The cores, as will beseen in Fig. 3, are tapering, being of large size where they receive thewinding of the magnetic coils and ot' reduced size at the point wherethey are presented to the tongue of the switch, whereby their magneticforce is concentrated and their energy rendered sufficient to insure theoperation of the tongue of the switch under all conditions. The extremeends 25 of the cores of the magnets project through the fixed rails ofthe track and are insulated therefrom, as shown at 28 in Fig. 2. Thecoils of the magnets are located in a suitable housing 26, set into thebed of the track, and are supported on the transverse rod 27, passingthrough the track-rail.

The description just given of the magnets 18 and 19 will apply as wellto magnets 2O and 21, which are in like manner placed to operate thepivoted tongue 28 of the switch in the branch track 2.

Carried on the car 29 and adapted to be operated by the motorman is acontact 30, which is in circuit with the motor 3l through the car-frameand which is adapted to have conL tact with the sections 10 to 13,inclusive, in the center of the track at the will of the motorman. Whenapproaching the first switch from the left and it is desired to passstraight along the main track instead of following the branch 2, thecontact 30, carried on the car, is caused to engage the centraltrack-section 13 in circuit with the magnet 21, at which time the wheelsof the car will rest upon the dead or insulated section 5 of the track,(see diagram Fig. 5,) so that the motor-current which is drawn throughthe trolley 31 from the overhead conductor, being unable to iud escapethrough the main rails of the track because of the insulated section 5,upon which the wheels of the car are resting, is diverted through saidcontact 30 to the conductor 17 and the electromagnet 21 to the rails ofthe track, thereby energizing said electromagnet and drawing the pivotedtongue 22 over to the position shown in said Fig. 5, whereby the samecurrent which passes through the motor to drive the car is directedthrough the electromagnet to actuate the switch, by which arrangement itwill be seen that in energizing the'electromagnet to operate the switchthe negative current is simply diverted through the conductor in whichsaid magnet is located,

making said magnet a part of the bonded system of the track, whose largecoils require but little power in addition to what would be necessary topass the current through the ordinary bond-wire, thereby economizinginthe use ot the power. To operate the tongue 28 in the oppositedirection, so as to cause the car to follow the curve of the branch 2,the contact 30, carried by the car, is caused to engage the centraltrack-section 12, whereby the current which passes through the motorwill be directed through magnet 20 and the tongue 28 will be drawn over,so as to direct the car on the branch 2, as will be well understood. Thetongue 22 of the second switch is in like manner operated through thecentral sections 10 and 11 and through the medium of the contact 30,carried by the car, which is caused to engage said sections, whereby themotor-current is directed through their respective lines to the magnets18 and 19.'

' It will be understood that the insulated sections 5 will be severalrods in length and that the central sections will be of correspondinglength, so as to give ample opportunity to operate the switches.

Having thus fully set forth this invention, what is claimed is- 1. ln anelectric switch, the combination with the overhead conductor, of therails yof the track, said rails having insulated sections, a centralrail-section between said insulated sections of the track, said centralsection in circuit with the main-track rails and an electromagnetincluded in said circuit, a pivoted tongue located in the track adjacentto said magnet, a car having a motor in circuit with said overheadconductor, a contact carried by the car, in circuit with said motor andadapted to be placed in contact with said central rail-section, to placesaid magnet in the motorcircuit.

2. In an electric railway-switch, the combination with the overheadconductor and the rails of the track in circuit with a source ofelectricity, said track-rails having insulated sections, independentsections located in the track between said insulated rail-sections,separate lines leading from said independent sections to the main railsof the track, an electromagnet located in each of the said lines, apivoted tongue in the track-rails adjacent to the poles of saidelectromagnets, a car carrying a motor which is in circuit with theoverhead conductor and with the rails of the track, a movable contact onthe car also in circuit with the motor, said contact being adapted to becaused to engage said central sections whereby the motor-current maybediverted through said electromagnets to the rails of the track.

' 3. In an electrical switch, the combination of the track and overheadconductor in circuit with a source of electricity, a movable tongue insaid track, an electromagnet adja- IIO IZO

cent to said tongue and adapted to actuate it, and a car having a motorin circuit with said overhead conductor and said electric magnet.

4. In an electric switch, the combination with a track, having a movabletongue therein, an electromagnet, said magnet having a core upon whichthe coil is mounted, said core having an upwardly-projecting tapered endprovided with a right-angled portion standing adjacent to said tongueand means for Io passing an electric current through said magnet.

In testimony whereof I sign this speciiication in the presence of twowitnesses.

ALBERT W. RUMSEY. Witnesses:

P. BINGMAN, E. S. WHEELER.

